BOSTON UNITED last night made an enquiry about the availability of Chester City’s experienced central defender Ashley Westwood.

The Lincolnshire outfit, currently in 21st place in Coca-Cola League Two, want to take the former Manchester United player on an extended loan basis to assist their fight against relegation.

City chairman Stephen Vaughan said following the enquiry: “The Boston manager Steve Evans phoned me to ask if they could take Ashley on loan. I will discuss the approach with my manager Mark Wright, and then we will contact Boston accordingly.

“We certainly wouldn’t let Ashley move anywhere until we had an adequate replacement in place, I am currently trying to expand the squad not contract it.”

If the 30-year-old Midlander is allowed to leave the Deva Stadium, he would become the third player with Chester connections at York Street, joining up with Drewe Broughton and Stephen Vaughan Jnr. Westwood has recently been sidelined because of a hamstring injury.

Chester last night completed the loan signing of the promising Everton midfielder Alan Kearney. The 19-year-old Irishman has initially joined on a one-month temporary transfer, but the agreement could be extended until the end of the season.

Kearney is expected to make his debut in a City shirt this evening when the club’s reserve side face Oldham Athletic in a Pontin’s League match at the Deva (kick- off 7pm).

Chester are also likely to include Glenn Cronin, Graham Allen, and Robert Marsh-Evans in their line-up.

City are hopeful injury victims Kevin Sandwith, Simon Marples, and Lawrence Wilson will shake off their knocks, and be available for Sunday’s cross-border all-ticket derby match against Wrexham at the Racecourse.